Dedication and Diligence Presented at TAMIU Student Recital Nov. 11

On Thursday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m., Texas A&M International University
student Daniel Garcia, Jr. will perform his Senior Recital (on piano)
at the Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall. This event is free
and open to the public. (photo)

In a performance that is the capstone to more than two years of dedication
and discipline, Garcia will perform the Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from
J.S. Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, Book I; the Sonata in C-Sharp Minor,
"Moonlight", Op. 27, No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven; the Hungarian
Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt; and the Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No.
5 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Dr. Fritz Gechter, associate professor of music, said Garcia is an ideal
student.

"He is very talented and is one of our department's most serious
students. He practices on average between four and eight hours a day,
often putting in 10-12 hours a day! Garcia is very musical and is very
easy to work with. He wants to learn as much as possible, loves music
deeply and is willing to work very hard to develop his talent," said
Dr. Gechter.

Garcia started studying at TAMIU more than two years ago and has made
great progress in his technique and musicianship, Gechter said.

"He came to TAMIU with only one year of applied piano study at
Laredo Community College and before that he was self-taught, except for
six months of study with his grandmother. But he was already attempting
advanced works," said Gechter, "He needed a bit of technical
work in terms of how to phrase, voice chords, et cetera, but today he
has learned to greatly minimize muscle tension and is thus able to play
with more ease, grace and fluidity."

According to Dr. Gechter, this recital will showcase Garcia's accomplishments,
and demonstrate what can be accomplished with abundant, daily practice.

"You really have to be so passionate about music and love practicing
and developing it to get past the intermediate and into the advanced levels
of music performance. You also have to have discipline, and very few people
have enough of it to really get to the higher levels. I am very proud
of Daniel, for this recital will show that he has now begun to enter these
higher levels," said Gechter.

For more information, please contact Gechter at 326.2639, visit offices
in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall, room 233D
or e-mail fgechter@tamiu.edu.

University office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests
and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information
Services at pais@tamiu.edu